Cushioned shipping folder

ABSTRACT

A cushioned shipping folder for books or the like is characterized by a pair of end cells of rectangular configuration with a reinforcing member extending diagonally within the cell to cause the cell to be resistant to crushing or other deformation. The reinforcing member is so configured that the distal edges thereof together with the distal edge of a main panel of the folder are caused to be held snugly in a line of fold of the end cell.

nited States Patent 1191 Carpenter et al.

[ CUSHIONED SHIPPING FOLDER [75] Inventors: John L. Carpenter; Charles R. Ostler, both of Anderson, Ind.

[73] Assignee: Container Corporation, Chicago, Ill. 22 Filed: Mar. 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 236,434

[52] U.S. Cl. 229/40, 206/46 FR [51] Int. Cl B65d 5/06 [58] Field of Search 229/40; 206/46 FR, 62 P [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,064,875 11/1962 Mairs 229/40 3,386,642 6/1968 Young 229/40 3,399,821 9/1968 Ringholz 229 40 3,445,054 5/1969 Champlin 229 40 3,383,028 5/1968 Brander 206 40 FR X [451 Feb. 19, 1974 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 816,545 7/1969 Canada 206/46 FR Primary ExaminerWilliam T. Dixson, Jr.

Assistant Examiner-Stephen P. Garbe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Carpenter, Ostis and Lindberg [57] ABSTRACT A cushioned shipping folder for books or the like is characterized by a pair of end cells of rectangular configuration with a reinforcing member extending diagonally within the cell to cause the cell to be resistant to crushing or other deformation. The reinforcing member is so configured that the distal edges thereof together with the distal edge of a main panel of the folder are caused to be held snugly in a line of fold of the end cell.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures CUSI-IIONEI) SHIPPING FOLDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention herein relates to cushioned folders for books or the like, the structure according to the present invention being characterized by a pair of hollow end cells resistant to crushing or other deformation to prevent the book from having the corners of the binding thereof from-becoming dog cared" during shipment. Each of the end cells has a rectangular configuration spacing the ends of the book from the ends of the folder, the rectangular cell being characterized by a diagonally extending strut therein causing the cell to be resistant to crushing or other deformation. The strut is arranged to be held in the line of fold of the end cell. The folder is formed from a cut and scored blank having elements thereof foldable to enclose the book and defining the aforesaid cells protecting the ends of the book during shipment.

2. The Prior Art Skaggs U.S. Pat. No. 3,116,005 (Class 229/40) is an example of a shipping folder having the ends of a book packaged therein protected during shipment. Unlike Skaggs, the structure according to the present invention comprehends a pair of closed cells protecting the ends of the book and resistant to deformation. Young U.S. Pat. No. 3,386,642 (Class 229/40) shows an end cell having a strut therein, but the strut is formed differently from the one disclosed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The cushioned folder is formed from a sheet of foldable paperboard or the like, the sheet being cut and folded to embrace a book to be shipped therein, the forming of the folder about the book resulting in the formation of a cell at each end of the folder having a reinforcing rib therein preventing deformation thereof.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a cushioned shipping folder constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cut and scored blank for forming the folder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the steps in forming the folder about a book;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view looking in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The improved cushioned shipping folder denoted by the reference numeral 111 seen in FIG. 1 is formed from a cut and scored blank A seen in FIG. 2. The folder l0 seen in FIG. 1 is adapted to enclose a book or other flat article B. Blank 10A and folder 10 consist of opposed major panels 11 and 12 and opposed minor panels 13 and 14, these being hingedly connected together along score lines 16 to form a tubular structure. An outer closure flap 17 is connected to the minor parallel wall 14 along a fold line 18, and closure flap 17 is adapted to' be closed against the underside of major wall 12, upon the closing of the folder 10 as seen in FIG. 1, flap 17 being secured to wall 12 in any convenient manner.

A closure and protecting structure is provided for each end of the folder l0.and consists-of first and second inner flaps l9 and 22 foldably connected to each other along a fold line 23, inner flap 19 being connected to wall 12 along a fold line 21. First inner flap 19 is defined also by cut lines 25A extending from the fold line 21 to the fold line 23 connecting the second inner flap 22 to the first inner flap 19.

The second inner flap 22 has the ends 24 thereof separated from the wall 12 along a cut line 25, there being a notch 27A at each end of the second inner flap 22 defined in part by a short cut line 26 extending inward from the distal edge 27 of'the second flap 22. The inner flap 19 is erected to a position perpendicular to the major wall 12, and the length of the edge 27, between the notches 27A at each end of the second inner flap 22, corresponds to the distance between the cut lines 25A extending from score line 21 to the score line 23. The second flap 22 can be folded to an oblique position with the notches 27A resting against the cut edges 25 in the wall 12.

The closure structure also includes a first outer flap 29 foldably connected to the second outer flap 32 along a fold line 33, first outer flap 29 being foldably connected to major wall 11 along a fold line 31. the first outer flap 29 is folded at right angles to the other major wall ll. And the second outer flap 32 is folded against the opposite major wall 12 as seen more clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5. Flap 32 can be glued or otherwise secured to the major wall 12.

It may be noted that the dimension of the second inner flap 22 is such as to extend diagonally from the major wall 12 to the opposite major wall 11. It may be noted also that the arrangement of the inner flap 19, the first outer flap 29, the second outer flap 32 and the major walls 11 and 12 is such as to provide a cell of rectangular cross section reinforced against deformation by reason of the second inner flap 22 extending diagonally therein to brace said cell.

By reason of the notches 27A and the edge 27 in flap 22, the diagonally extending flap 22 presents but a single fold or thickness of material at the line of fold 33.

This is especially important in the assembly operation, and insures a well-defined fold 33 capable of being readily achieved on closing machinery.

In closing the container 10, the flaps 32 and 17 are brought into abutting relationship, the ends of such flaps being respectively mitred as at 36 and 34.

By reason of the construction described, the ends of the book and the corners thereof are protected against dog-earing, the cells at the ends of the folder 10 being etremely resistant to deformation by reason of the reinforcemnt and the configuration thereof.

We claim: 1. A cushioned shipping folder formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard or the like, comprising:

a. opposed pairs of major and minor parallel walls foldably interconnected to form a tubular structure; b. an outer closure flap foldably connected to one of said parallel walls and secured to an adjacent parallel wall of said tubular structure; c. a closure and protecting structure for each end of said tubular structure, said struture comprising:

i. a pair of first and second inner flaps foldably connected to each other with the first one of said flaps being foldably connected to one of said major parallel walls adjacent to the end thereof;

A. said first inner flap being folded to a position generally perpendicular to said one major parallel wall; Y i. said first inner flap having a length less than the width of said one major parallel wall,

B. said second inner flap of said pair of inner flaps being folded angularly with respect to said first inner flap and angularly with respect to said one major parallel wall to provide an end cell of triangular cross section;

C. an elongated notch at each end of said second inner flap;

D. Said elongated notches fitting against those portions of said major parallel wall at the ends of said first inner flap to provide exposed cut surfaces extending along a generally common line upon folding of said first and second inner flaps;

ii. a pair of first andsecond outer flaps foldably connected to each other with one of said outer flaps being foldably connected to one end of the other of said major parallel walls;

A. said first outer flap being folded to a position generally perpendicular to said other major parallel wall;

B. said second outer flap being folded and secured to the first one of said major parallel walls;

iii. said inner and outer pairs of flaps defining a deformation resistant cell of generally rectangular cross section with said second inner flap extending angularly therein to brace said cell;

iv. said inner flap and the end of said first major parallel wall at the exposed cut surfaces thereof being engageable with a a line of fold of said outer pairs of flaps to provide a snug bearing at said fold line between said outer pairs of flaps and providing a generally rectangular cross section cell having said inner flap extending diagonally therein to brace said rectangular cross section cell. 

1. A cushioned shipping folder formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard or the like, comprising: a. opposed pairs of major and minor parallel walls foldably interconnected to form a tubular structure; b. an outer closure flap foldably connected to one of said parallel walls and secured to an adjacent parallel wall of said tubular structure; c. a closure and protecting structure for each end of said tubular structure, said struture comprising: i. a pair of first and second inner flaps foldably connected to each other with the first one of said flaps being foldably connected to one of said major parallel walls adjacent to the end thereof; A. said first inner flap being folded to a position generally perpendicular to said one major parallel wall; i. said first inner flap having a length less than the width of said one major parallel wall; B. said second inner flap of said pair of inner flaps being folded angularly with respect to said first inner flap and angularly with respect to said one major parallel Wall to provide an end cell of triangular cross section; C. an elongated notch at each end of said second inner flap; D. Said elongated notches fitting against those portions of said major parallel wall at the ends of said first inner flap to provide exposed cut surfaces extending along a generally common line upon folding of said first and second inner flaps; ii. a pair of first and second outer flaps foldably connected to each other with one of said outer flaps being foldably connected to one end of the other of said major parallel walls; A. said first outer flap being folded to a position generally perpendicular to said other major parallel wall; B. said second outer flap being folded and secured to the first one of said major parallel walls; iii. said inner and outer pairs of flaps defining a deformation resistant cell of generally rectangular cross section with said second inner flap extending angularly therein to brace said cell; iv. said inner flap and the end of said first major parallel wall at the exposed cut surfaces thereof being engageable with a a line of fold of said outer pairs of flaps to provide a snug bearing at said fold line between said outer pairs of flaps and providing a generally rectangular cross section cell having said inner flap extending diagonally therein to brace said rectangular cross section cell. 